Mayfield early and often! Crittenden took the opening kick off and was held to 3 and out and then punted to X Shelton who runs the punt back for a TD. Mayfield again holds and gets the ball back scoring on their 2nd offensive play and the game was over for CC. Mayfield dominated every phase ofthe game and was rewarded by not having to leave the friendly home field at War Memorial stadium until beaten or they head to BG for a shot at a state title

well i felt that mayfield was going to come out on top but not like this. when X. Shelton said that they was going to prove it, he wasn't lying. Mayfield just came out and showed the state what they are about and that is business. For crittenden, we can now see that they had no challenge throughout their season and now they have another tough opponent next week against the undefeated murray tigers. they are looking to keep their undefeted season as well.

I can tell this board doesnt care about west kentucky football.Mayfield critt. co. thread 3 posts pitifull. All i got to say is LCA BEECHWOOD thats all i seem to read about on here, well get ready the Cardinals are coming for you and u wont like what you see. You and the board better be paying some attention because your standing on the track and the big trains coming so look out.

Just a near flawless game by the Cardinals last night. I think most were expecting it to be a little closer, but last night, Mayfield's heart equalled their talent and speed and that is a very scary combination for their opponents. I know the players and coaches have all said that revenge was not on their minds, just winning, but I'm not buying that, because they came out ready to throw down...and they did

WESTERN KENTUCKY - In the area's biggest high school football game so far this season, Mayfield dominated Crittenden County, winning 42-7 at Crittenden Friday night. Mayfield is ranked the No. 1 team in Kentucky's Class 1A by the Associated Press and Crittenden is No. 3. Both teams entered play 8-0. While the rankings are close, the game was not. Xavier Shelton returned a punt 73 yards for a score, and Luke Guhy hit Javarious Richardson for a 37-yard scoring pass play and 13-0 lead. Crittenden went nowhere on its first three possessions, and following a punt, Mayfield took over and marched 60 yards for a score on Tyreese Murrell's 7-yard run. A possession later, Marc Wynstra booted a 33-yard field goal for the 22-0 advantage which stood as the halftime score. The Cardinals won the battle of the lines a year after losing to Crittenden twice in one season. The Rockets last year won the district, then beat Mayfield in the regional title game to advance to the state semifinals.

MARION, Ky. - There is no denying that the balance of power is back in order in the Class A First District.

One year after Crittenden County upset the hierarchy of small-school western Kentucky football by beating Mayfield twice in one season, the mighty Cardinals are back on top, thrashing the Rockets 42-7 in a clash of two previously unbeaten top 5 teams.

"They're for real. They're No. 1," said Rocket coach Al Starnes. "We threw everything we had at them and they stopped us. They are better on defense than I thought."

Right out of the chute, Mayfield declared its return to the throne, scoring twice in about four minutes and running out to a 22-0 halftime lead. For the methodical Rocket offense, that alone was insurmountable.

"Our defense played great," Mayfield coach Joe Morris said. "We took it to them and dominated the game."

Crittenden managed just 88 yards rushing and 73 in the air.

"Our kids worked really hard for this. They remembered what happened last year on this field and they were rewarded for their hard work."

Crittenden beat the Cardinals 27-14 at Mayfield in the 2008 regular season, and 26-13 at Marion in the regional championship game. It was the first time a team had knocked off the Class A First Region superpower twice in one season.

The Rockets were hoping that history would repeat itself and give them homefield advantage through the playoffs, but the Cardinals were irrepressible this time. Barring any upsets, they will be at home for every post-season game, except the championship at Bowling Green.

Mayfield scored on its first four offensive series of the game and put touchdowns on the board on three of its first four possessions in the second half. Running back Tyreese Murrell was the workhorse, gathering 158 yards on the ground and scoring twice.

Mayfield's heralded receiver Xavier Shelton was held in check most of the game on offense. He was the focus of Crittenden's defensive scheme and didn't catch a pass against a double team in the secondary until midway through the third period. Yet the talented senior found ways to hurt his hosts. He returned the Rockets' first punt for a 73-yard touchdown and caught a TD pass in the third period from quarterback Luke Guhy, who was 8-for-14 with three touchdowns.

With Shelton bottled up downfield – and out of the backfield where he rushed for just five yards on two attempts – Mayfield turned to others in its vast arsenal. Junior Javarius Richardson caught two touchdown passes of 37 and 15 yards. And backup running back Decole Noonan scooted free for a 76-yard run on his only carry to set up Mayfield's field goal in the second period.

The third-ranked Rockets were unable to gain any momentum, falling behind early and leaving last season's double-dip over Mayfield in the distance past.

"Our kids played hard. Other than a few missed tackles, we did all we could do. We gave it all we had," Starnes said.

The Rockets came out throwing the ball, trying to catch top-ranked Mayfield off guard. The hype leading up the matchup – billed as the Game of the Year in Western Kentucky – centered largely on the Rockets' ball-control offense as its lone weapon vs. the big-play Cardinals. Crittenden threw on first down its first three possessions, but Mayfield was ready for it. Cardinal defensive back William Higgingson, a sophomore, picked off two passes, including Gray's second of the contest to set up his team's second touchdown on a short field.

Mayfield had excellent field position early and made the Rockets pay.

"We were prepared for this game," said Morris, whose team was off last week, giving it time to mend and polish its plan. "Our coaching staff did a great job and our kids were ready to play Monday or Tuesday."

Crittenden managed to get a little pressure on the Mayfield quarterback in the second and third periods, and slowed the firestorm. Still, the defense that was among the best in the state – allowing only a little more than a touchdown a game – had few answers for Mayfield's versatile attack. On offense, it was no easier for Crittenden. Despite scoring 34 points a game this season, the Rockets managed a meager touchdown in the fourth period when Brian Berry scored after senior receiver Allen Kirk caught a 43-yard pass, taking the ball deep into Mayfield territory.

Crittenden (8-1) will close out its regular season next week at undefeated Murray High.